Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. M. EDWARDS.

GAR OOU-PLING.

WITNESSES 1w VIM/TOR u PETERS. mwum n w. wum xm. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FEIcE.

JAMES M. EDlVARDS, OF AUDUBON, IO\VA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.339,'751,dz1ted April 13, 1856.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Audubon, in the county of Audubon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view ofa draw-head ofa railroad-car provided with my improved coupling,showing the coupling-pin elevated and the supports for the coup ling-link closed down against and seated in a recess in the end of the draw-head to couple with the opposing draw-head; Fig. 2, a similar view of the opposing draw-head with the link in position for coupling and supported by the arms which are extended for the purpose; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the two draw-heads as above described, and Fig. 4 a horizontal section through one of the drawheads.

The presentinvention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in automatic car-couplers, and has reference to that class in which the coupling-pin is held in an ele vated position ready for coupling,and released by a tripping device operated by the two drawheads when coming together; and the inverr tion consistsin the details of construction,substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A B represent the opposing draw-heads of a railroadcar, provided at its front end with a recess, a, in which are seated the link-supporting arms 0. These arms are curved, as shown, and connected together by a pin, 1), 011 the end of one arm entering an elongated slot, 0, in the other, and the shanks (l of said arms, which extend along the sides of the draw-head, pass through eyes a, which support them and form guides for the shanks when the arms are ex tended to support the coupling-link D in a horizontal position.

The shanks d are provided with keys f,and the sides of the draw-heads have Lshaped slotsg, in which work the keys of the shanks, the arms 0, when closed down in the recess a, to come flush with the end of the draw-head, bringing the keys in position in the rear end or upright portion ofthe L-shaped slots,there by locking the linksupporting arms in their closed position.

\Vhen it is desired to extend the armsG for supporting the link D, the arms are slightly elevated at their point of connection, the elongated slot 0 admitting of this movement, and at the same time the shanks d are turned sufficiently to bring the keys fin line with the horizontal portion of the L-shaped slotsg, thus enabling the shanks and arms to be drawn out as required, stops h being provided at the forward extremity of the slots, against which the keys abut, to prevent the arms from being drawn too far out. The coupling-pin E passes through a hole in the front end of an arm, F, curved,as shown, to form a seat for the head of the pin,and the rear end of the arm is pivoted to ears orlugs i on the draw-head. To the arm F is pivoted one end of a foot. It, or otherwise connected, so as to move on the are of a circle lengthwise of the arm.

The foot 76, which supports the arm F in an elevated position, rests at its lower end on a trip-lever, G, pivoted near its center to the draw-head, its outer extremity having pivoted thereto a push-pin, I. This push-pin passes out through the front end of the draw-head, and when the coupling-pin ll is held in an elevated position by means of the pivoted arm F, foot k, and trip-lever G, as shown in Fig.

1, and the opposing draw-heads A B come to gether, the pin Z will be forcedin, and also the supporting-arms O. This will cause the triplever G to be pushed out from under the end of the foot 70, and the arm F dropping, carrying wit-h it the pin E, and the foot also dropping into a mortise, m, in the draw-head, the pin E in its descent passing through the usual holes therefor and through the coupling-linkD.

A spring, a, connected to the trip-lever G and passing through a staple, o, throws the lever back in position after the pressure is removed from the end of the pin 1.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head formed with L-shaped slots at its sides and stops at their outer'extremities.

and the ends of the draw-heads having curved recesses therein, of curved supporting-bars connected together by a pin and elongated slot,

and provided with shanks supported in eyes in the sides of the draw-head, and carrying keys working in the slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, a draw-head recessed at its end and provided with extensible supportingarms for the coupling-link, and means for locking the arms in a closed position in the recess, in combination with a coupling- 15 pin, a pivoted arm, to which it is connected, a foot and a trip lever for supporting the 7 arm, and a push-pin connected to the lever. and extending. out through the front end of the draw-head, substantially as'and for the 20 purpose described. I

In testimony that I claim the aboveI have hereunto subscribed-my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. EDWARDS. Witnesses: H. 1VIENDENTALL, W. S. CLAWSON. 

